I do not own TMNT in any form of medium, the original concept belongs to Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. The story will contain OCs and 'easter eggs' and referensers to earlier TMNT works or series.

This is an AU so divergences from the cannon will be unavoidable. I however hope that you will find the story interesting and enjoyable.

Please leave a Review once done and if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Story of our clan

Long time ago during the dawning of the Asuka, existed a swordsman by the name of Koga Takuza. Hundreds of samurai fell to his hand and he stole the sacred items of those he defeated. Out of those sacred objects he created an alloy harder than steel and forged it into a helmet. The same helmet that has been passed down to the next leader of the clan. Koga's clan, the Foot became an important player in the shaping the history of Japan for centuries. The clan flourished and survived whereas others failed and disappeared in the sands of time. I was born in that clan, however over 30 years ago it was attacked by our rival the Hamato clan, and everything that once was, became ash and a lone child survived. The young boy was taken into the Hamato raised and trained alongside the young son of its leader.

The years passed the boys became men and soon they fell in love with a woman from the south. The younger of the two was the first to meet and love her but the Hamato son soon wanted her for himself. Ridiculing the boy he called brother till he showed his darker side his own oni scared the woman he loved away. The clan leader's son was there ready to love her after he had torn the heart and trust from his brother. Years passed and the young man had to see his beloved and his once loved brother have a child. Hatred that had lied dormant began to grow consuming his heart and mind. The old clan leader that had lead the attack on the foot clan finally told the young man the truth, of where his origins began. As the Hamato clan's leader drew his final breath the man became consumed by his own anger. Revolving against the clan that had raised him and declaring himself the new leader of the Foot setting the flag of the Hamato's aflame declaring himself an enemy of the clan. In a last attempt to convince her to leave the life he knew she was unsure of he asked her to choose the man she would stay with. But out of love for her daughter and its father she did not choose him.

Any bond that had been between the 'brothers' where now severed, all the hurt and anger escalated into a battle that set the house in flames.

The blades took a life that night, but it was the woman he had sworn to protect, the woman he would have left that life for. She had foolishly stepped between them and in a moment of confusion the man was struck by a flaming piece of wood that disfigured his face for eternity.

He was captured and banished from the clan and Japan. If their paths where ever to cross again the new clan leader would see to it that he would never wake up.

But three of the Hamato clans' members betrayed them, left with the newly appointed leader of the Foot and became loyal followers as they left their land and travelled to New York. Where the new foot clan became reborn.

"That is the history of our clan." The Japanese man finished his story. He was sitting in a kneeling position on the tatami mat. In front of him was four futons all of them where occupied by four alert younglings.

"OH!" Four tiny children looked in aware at the scarred man before them. The five year old creatures always loved stories from Japan especially when the man in front of them told them. There was something dramatic in the way he told the story, bringing it to life.

"So that is where you got your scars." The oldest of them said, his eyes focusing on the burnt side of his face. It was red and his right eye had been damaged rendering it almost useless. It however made him rely on his other senses more, that in turn hardened him and made him less vulnerable.

"Yes." He stated. The sacred helmet from the story was sitting innocently in front of them, it shone in the low light. Its silhouette radiated power and did even more so when the man wore it.

"Do you think we will wear it one day?" The second oldest looked at the dark metallic headpiece, it would be so cool to be the boss.

"The Kuro Kabuto is not a light burden to wear. It represents not only the power but also the responsibility and burden that comes with being the clan's leader. It has to be earned and when that day comes the most suited will be chosen. And so the cycle shall repeat again." The man rested his hand on the cool metal, he rarely went anywhere without it.

"I take that is a no." The quietest of the brother commented, dark brown eyes did look at the helmet but he did not see the appeal in being its next wearer. It was terrifying the mere thought of being a leader for the ninja clan. There were a lot of things at stake and so many things could go wrong.

"Ask again in 20 years." The three other children groaned, it was always 'not now' or 'when you get older' or even in worse cases 'never'. That did not sit well with them.

"Besides you haven't even gotten your masks yet. A non-initiated ninja can't become the leader of a ninja clan."

"When are we going to get our own ninja masks?" The smallest of them asked eyes gleaming at the idea of receiving a personal mask, he would definitely have the coolest of them all perhaps he could have Godzilla on it.

"You are still much too young. You are barley a student, let alone a ninja."

"Aww but Yen got her mask last week." The smallest whined. The red and white cat mask was a symbol of her achievements and talent she was now the first full-fledged kunoichi of the Foot, and she wore that title proudly.

"Need I remind you that she is over 20 years your senior and has been an active member for five years?" He said deadpanned.

"We have also been here for five years." The green eyed tyke argued eyes narrowed and gaze defiant.

"Raphael you where infants when we found you." The man stated in the driest of tone.

"Still." Grumbled the child, they had also begun training. Even if the clan was still small the number of people that knew of them was smaller. They knew that they were different, but they did not know why they were made to be different. The older ninjas that where present have told them they were found in an abandoned building but they were always vague about where and why the ninja clan was there. Once again it was the 'we'll tell you when you are older' shtick which annoyed the four boys to no end.

"When you are old enough you will go through your own initiation into the life of a ninja. But that day is still far away and you will have to make that choice once the time has come." All of the brothers disliked the waiting game especially two of them.

"Awwwww, but it will be forever till that happens." The youngest stated dramatically falling backwards onto his brown eyes sibling that had already begun to settle back down to sleep. Unfortunately the slightly older boy got his baby brothers knuckle right in the back of his head.

"Ouch, Mikey watch where you fall." He stated displeased.

"Sorry Donnie." A goofy grim was on the freckled faced turtle. The brown eyed turtle just let his head fall back onto his pillow.

"It is past your bedtime. You have training early tomorrow and Nagi will be displeased if you are not alert." Saki said as he rose from the floor with the Kabuto firmly in hand, the four turtles where still children and needed strict regimen with discipline along with freedom and affection. The three remaining children also crawled underneath their futons, some with more protest than others.

"O-yasumi nasai." The man said and a small choir of 'O-yasumi' sent him off as he turned off the last light, leaving the four boys to sleep.

However it was not silent for long. With Mikey out like a light and snoring, while the others still slightly awake and turning trying to fine just the right position.

"Bet I will be the next clan leader." The green eyed terrapin stated proudly even if his voice was low.

"We'll see. The best ninja will be the next leader after all." Leo said with a proud tone, of all his brothers he wanted to wield the sword as flawlessly as he had seen other ninjas do. The katana was the sword of a leader after all.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Of course."

"Be ready to lose."

"Can you two shut it? Some of us want to sleep." The second youngest grumbled, he already had a feeling that the title of the new clan leader would be the newest in a line of competitive subjects his older brothers always fought over. Oh how right he was.